martin



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. P. MARTIN & W. P. McPE'AT. HAND DEVICE FOR'APPIXING POSTAGHSTAMPS. No. 546,769.

' Patented Sept. 24, 1895.

ad. at'tozmm AN DREW B.GRAHAM. FHOTO-LITHO.WASH| NGTON D C (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. P; MARTIN & W. P. McFEAT. HAND DEVIUE FOR AFPIXING POSTAGE STAMPS.

No. 546,769. Patented Sept '24, 1895.

ANDREW BGRAIIAM,PNO'IOLITMQWASINNGTONDC,

.(No Model.) 3 sheets-s een '3. J. P. MARTIN 8v W. P. MOFEAT.

HAND DEVICE FOR APFIXING PQST AGE STAMPS.

No. 546,769. Patented Sept. 24, 1895.

UNITED STATES WATENT nron.

JAMES P. MARTIN AND WILLIAM P. MCFEAT, on MONTREAL, CANADA.

HAND DEVICE FOR AFFIXINGV POSTAGE-STAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 546,769, dated September 24;, 1895. Application filed July 28, 1893- S erial No. 481,749. (lie model.) Patented in Canada September 14, 1893, No, 44,276.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES PHILIP MAR-' TIN and WILLIAM PEIROE MOFEAT, of the city of Montreal, in the district of Montreal and Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand Devices for Affixing Postage-Stamps and the Like, (for which wehave obtained Letters Patent of the Dominion of Canada, No. 44,276, hearing date September 14, 1893;) and we do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same. j i

This invention has for itsobject to produce a device for carrying a strip of postage-stain ps, or other attachable parts requiring the dampening of adhesive matter thereon, and by placing the device over the article to receive the stamp and causing a single depression of a plunger to effect the feed, dampening, or gumming, severance from the strip, and affixing in place of the detached stamp or section upon the article requiring its attachment; and to this end the invention maybe said to consist in an arrangement of parts whereby the depression of a plunger downward into contact with the article to receive the stamp will through intermediate connections feed'forward the strip of stamps or sections over a dampener or gummer and a stationary cuttingedge into thepath of the plunger, an edge of which in its descent acts with the stationary cutting-edge to shear offthe stamp or section and carry same before it to the letter or other article to receive it, over'which the device is located.

Our invention also comprises a novel formof carrier for the strip of stamps to be used in combination with the above-mentioned arrangement, if so desired, the same consisting of two bands or lengths of flexible fabric carrying the strip of stamps between them and wound round a spindle, and a pair of automatic take-ups acting to wind or gather up the portions of the bands which are unwound during the feeding of the strip.

For full comprehension, however, of the invention reference must be had to the annexed drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like symbols indicate corresponding parts, and wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device,

partly broken away; Fig. 2, a vertical section on line at m, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a horizontal section on line y y, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, an enlarged detail elevation of portions of the intermediate feedoperating mechanism; Fig. 5, a detail horizontal section of dampener; Fig. 6, a similar view to Figfl, enlarged; and Fig. 7 a view in elevation of the opposite side of the device to that shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

The frame of the device is of skeleton form, comprising four legs A A A A, connected at their upper ends by a neck-piece or collar A, midway by a strip A and at the bottom by connecting-strips A leaving an inner space extending upward from an open bottom for the working of a plunger-head 13, carried on the lower end of stem 13', which has its bearing in the collar A, and carries a hand-knob b at its upper end, a coiled spring I) encircling it between and bearing, respectively, against said knob and the collar for the purpose of normally elevating same to the position shown in Fig. 1. Two of the legs A have corresponding side extension plates or wings'a projecting outwardly but parallel with two opposite sides of the frame to form bearings for a roller 0 and the dampener or gummer, which latter is preferably in the form of a perforated cylinder D, covered with sponge, flannel, or like liquid-retaining substance D, and having one end permanently closed and provided with a spindle end, while the opposite end is diminished and projects through and beyond a bearing in the leg of the frame, and is provided with a removable cap D or other de vice having a screw -threaded connection therewith and allowing the replenishment thereof with water; or if ungummed sections are to be attached to an article or articles the cylinder will be filled with adhesive substance. The'dampener or gummer can, if desired, be carried in adjustable bearings, thereby making it possible to move it (the dampener) out of contact with the stamps or sections when the device is not in use.

The roller C and the dampener or gummer together form a feed, which is operated by the following mechanism: 0n the outside of one of the legs having the plate'extension a a sliding rack-bar E is arranged'to engage a pinion e, mounted on a stud on the outside of such leg, which pinion intermeshes with another pinion f on the spindle end of the roller C, that projects through and beyond its bearing in such leg to carry it, and thus pinionf in turn engages gear-wheel f on the diminished end of the cylinder D. The rack-bar has at its lower end a stud g, which engages and travels in a cam-groove or triangular guideway 71 in the side of the extension-plate a (as will be more fully explained) and has its upper end formed witha hooked finger 7a, which takes over a pin or stud 7a on the side of the plunger-head B. This rack-barE also has connected with it, as at m, one end of a retractile spring a, the other end of which is connected at n to the frame. On the inner face of the frai'ne-ccnnecting strip A is set a cutting-edge p, which, together with the edge (1 of the plunger-head B in its descent, serve to sever the stamp or like section from a continuous strip S, (indicated by chain-lines in Fig. 1,) which is fed forward at intervals between the roller 0 and the dampener or gummer, as will presently be explained.

Thus far we have described our device as it may be used if it is sufficient merely to insert between the feed-roll and dampener each separate strip of stamps, (usually procurable in strips of ten each,) as it may be required and one after the other; but should it be found desirable to arrange a number of such strips in succession for a rapid and uninterrupted use of the device the auxiliary carrier mechanism or parts before mentioned may be used. This carrier mechanism consists of two side plates R R, held together at a distance apart corresponding to the legs A A of the frame by conneeting-strips r r, and having their inner faces or edges shaped to coincide with the extended outside edges .9 of such legs, these plates and strips forming a detachable frame, which is provided with hooks t at the upperinner corners to take over projecting rings 1/. on the main frame and with spring latches or clips 1' at the lower inner corners to engage legs to on the main frame, or it may be otherwise detachably secured to the main frame. In this detachable frame is journaled a guide-roller S, take-up rollers or spindles T T, having actuating spiral springs T T, connected at their ends, respectively, to said rollers and the frame, and a further roller or spindle U, to which is attached the united ends of two bands or lengths of textile fabric Y Y, the opposite free ends of which lengths are taken over the guide-roller S and roller 0 and secured to the take-up rollers T T.

In operation, and presuming the detachable carrier is to be used,this is first tilted up into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, and filled by introducing as many strips of stamps in succession as the length of the bands Y will accommodate, the first strip of the series being set in place between the bands adjacent to their united ends, while such bands are unwound from the spindle U and gathered upon the take-up rollers T T, after which by rotating the spindle U both the bands and the strips of stamps are wound up together. The carrier is then turned down into place, the projecting end of the stamp-strip placed between the roller G and the dampener, and the device is ready for use in the same way as the usual hand numbering device-t'. 0., it is placed over the article to receive the postage-stamp and by a single depression the work is done, the operation of the several parts being as follows: The downward movement of the plunger-head allows the retraetile spring to draw down in a straight line the rack-barEas faras the guideway h will allow it, this extent of movement being sufficient to rotate the pinion e, and through it and the other pinion f the feedroller (3, so that the stamp-strip is fed over the cutting-edge p the required distance to secure the severance of a stamp by the farther descent of the plunger-head.

In order to avoid engagement between the rack-bar E and the pinion 6 during the return of the plunger-head to its normal position, the cam-groove or triangular guideway h is provided with springs 7b 7L2, respectively, at the upper and lower ends of the vertical part of same, so that when the stud or projection g, fitting the guideway, comes to the lower end itis thrown outof the vertical, and consequently freed from engagement with the pinion e, by the lower spring 72 the stud passing into the lower oblique part of the camgroove or guideway and returning in the position determined by the traveling of the stud along the remainder of same, the spring 7t serving when it reaches the top to throw it into vertical line again and proper engagement with the pinion c. As the bands of the carrier become unwound, they are taken up by the spring-actuated rollers T T. In the event of the carrier being dispensed with the stamp-strip simply hangs freely to one side of the device, being held by the roller 0 and the dampener.

Vhat we claim is as follows:

1. In a device for the purpose set forth, the combination with a structure comprising a frame or support, composed of vertical legs or sections disposed to allow space between them extending from an open bottom upward throughout theirlength, feed and dampening mechanism in roller form, a stationary cutting edge, a spring operated gear and rack connection for operating the feed and a depressible plunger, of a carrier supported by said frame in the form of a pair of bands united at one end and connected to a roller and adapted to be rolled, with the strip to be operated upon between them, and unwound by said feed mechanism, and means for taking up the unwound ends of said carrier.

2. Ina device for the purpose set forth, the combination of a main frame or support, composed of vertical legs or sections disposed to allow space between them extending from an open bottom upward throughout their length, a depressible plunger normally elevated; feed and dampening mechanism in roller form, the dampening roller being perforated and containing the moistening liquid; a stationary cutting edge and a spring-operated gear and rack connection with an independent offsetting guideway for the rack shorter than the stroke of the plunger and a loose connection between the plunger and the rack, to secure the operation of said feed duringa period only of the depression of said plunger, as set forth.

3. In a device for the purpose set forth, the combination of amain frame, or support, composed of vertical legs or sections disposed to allow a space between them, extending from an open bottom upward throughout their length; a depressible plunger working therein and being normally elevated; feed and dampenin g mechanism; a stationary cutting edge, and a movable feedoperating rack bar having a reciprocal compound or indirect travel imparted to it by the combined action of said plunger, a spring connection between it and said frame and an irregular guideway.

4. In a device for attaching stamps and the 25 like, having a gear and rack connection for operating the feed, a detachable and swinging carrier frame, a carrier for the strip to be acted upon, in the form of a pair of bands united at one end and connected to a roller, mounted in said frame, and adapted to be rolled together upon said roller with said strip between them, and unwound by said feeding mechanism, and take up rolls also mounted in said frame for taking up the bands as they 35 are unwound.

Montreal, July 21, 1893.

JAMES P. MARTIN. WILLIAM P. MOFEA'I. In presence of FRED. J. SEARS, R. A. C. KIMBEB. 

